Parables

Description

A **parable** is a short, simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. It is often used in religious or philosophical teachings. Parables usually feature everyday situations or characters, and their purpose is to convey profound truths in a relatable and understandable way.

Here are a few examples of famous parables:

### 1. **The Good Samaritan** (Bible – Gospel of Luke)
**Lesson**: Kindness transcends boundaries.
**Story**: A man is beaten and left for dead by the side of the road. A priest and a Levite pass by without helping, but a Samaritan, someone typically despised by Jews at the time, stops to assist, showing compassion and mercy.

### 2. **The Prodigal Son** (Bible – Gospel of Luke)
**Lesson**: Forgiveness and redemption are always available.
**Story**: A younger son asks his father for his inheritance and wastes it in reckless living. When a famine strikes, the son returns to his father, remorseful. The father welcomes him back with open arms, showing unconditional love and forgiveness.

### 3. **The Parable of the Lost Sheep** (Bible – Gospel of Matthew)
**Lesson**: Every individual is precious and worth seeking out.
**Story**: A shepherd leaves his 99 sheep to search for one lost sheep, illustrating that God values each person and will go to great lengths to bring them back.

### 4. **The Tortoise and the Hare** (Aesop’s Fables)
**Lesson**: Slow and steady wins the race.
**Story**: A hare, confident in its speed, challenges a tortoise to a race. The hare stops to rest, thinking it will win easily, while the tortoise continues at a steady pace. Eventually, the tortoise wins the race, showing that persistence and determination often overcome arrogance and haste.

### 5. **The Blind Men and the Elephant** (Indian Parable)
**Lesson**: Different perspectives can lead to different truths.
**Story**: Several blind men touch different parts of an elephant and describe what they think it is—one thinks it’s a wall (touching the elephant’s side), another thinks it’s a spear (touching the tusk), and so on. This illustrates how limited perspectives can lead to incomplete or inaccurate conclusions.

Parables have been used across cultures and religions, from ancient Greece to the teachings of Buddha, to provide wisdom in a manner that engages the listener and invites reflection.